Liquid supply means for power washing cream separator



Dec. 4, 1951 w.\H. HARsTlcK ETAL 2,577,326

LIQUID SUPPLY MEANS FOR POWER WASHING CREAM SEPARATOR Filed July 14, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l w. H. HARsTlcK ETAL 2,577,326

Dec. 4, 1951 LIQUID SUPPLY MEANS FOR POWER 'WASHING CREAM SEPARATOR 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 Filed July 14, 1948 v'tornl'ed in. the lower .portion of' the bowl.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 y NiJNlTr-.D srnr1-3-s l'PATE'.NT inf-F 2,577,326 ICE LIQUID SUPPLY MEANS Foa POWER WASHING CREAM sErAnA'roR William n. Harstick, voak Park, andv Hilmona o. Vogel, Chicago, Ill., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationJuly 14, 1948,. Serial No. 38,6111

af claims. (01. 23a- 1i This invention relates toV a power washing cream separator. Morespecically, thel invention "relates to an improved combinedI milk and Washing liquid supply means for a power selfwashing cream separator;

' In the application of W. H. Harstick, Serial No.

678,863, led July A2d, 1946 now Patent' Number 2,504,681, a power orself-washing cream separator is' described and disclosed.. A power washing cream .separator of the vtype disclosed Vin this application consists essentially of a revoluble separating bowl having therein ra plurality'of superimposed frustro-conical separating disks.. The separating bowl is` provided at its maximum in*- ternal" periphery with a centrifugally operable discharge valve, operable to control the discharge of awashing liquid therethrough. A supply'can Iarator bowl ofV this type the milk. feed tube is axially 'displaceable with'respect to the discharge tube for permitting predetermined 'quantities of washing liquid to, escape. through the discharge v tube into the separating bowl forcleaning and washing the interior of. the bowl. Upon. the entrance of Va washing liquid into the separating blowl the bowl is suiciently slowed down during the. speed of rotation so thatv the centrifugally operable peripheral discharge valve opens to p erthe escape Vand discharge of' thewashing liquid from the separating bowl.

VThe milk. feed tube is provided with a handle which. the operator can grasp in. order tov axially v"operation the operator may axially displace the milk feed. tube from the discharge tube two or three times, in each case permitting ya suicient quantity of washing liquid to enter into the sep- .aratingj bowl so that the interior of the same is D'ljQlJerly cleansed.

The milk feed. tube is designed project -downwardly into a cylindrical space formed by lthe inner peripheral edges `of the disk pack.

The' lower-most portion, of the milk feed tube is, in communication witha distributor chamber The distributor chamber is utilized during the cream rating operation andi the feedtube supplies fhole milk thereto.,v In order to. secure .proper separation itlis' desirable. that ythe milk feed tube is: securelyv positioned within the discharge tube so that the lower-most discharge' end of 'the milk 2 feed tube is continually in axial alignment with the separating bowl and cannotreadily be cocked or otherwise displaced during the separating op`{-.

era-tion.- AtV thesain'e. time, it is also desirable to provide a; milk feed tube which readilyl may be axially displaced'from the discharge tube during the ysequence o fv washing operations by the operator as above mentioned. The prime object ofthis invention, therefore, is to provide an improved liq'uid'su'p'ply and feeding arrangement fora powerwashing cream sepa'ratingbowl.Y f

A still further object is to provide a milk 'feed tube'for" a power washing creamseparator,` said milk feed tube 'being designed to remain in com"- plete laxial alignment 'with the lseparating bowl during theseparating operation. n

A still Afurther object is to providev `a supply means for'fa Apower)washing cream separating bOWLSaidsupply means including a supply can having a discharge tube and a milk feed tube positioned therein, s aid milk feed tube being readily' displ'ace'able fromthe discharge tubefr regulating the controlqof washing liquid to the separating bowl during'the power washing sequence of operation. A

A still further object is to provide a discharge tube for supplyingwashing `liquid to a power washing cream separatingrbowl, said tube includ.-

i'ng a shoulder atits upper end engageablewith a portion ofthedischargeftube*for sealingthe same, said tube also ,includingI a body portion having a rounded annular enlargement at its lowerend, saidenlargement cooperating with the discharge tube for'sealingr the same until' the enlargement and the' milk feed. tube is axially removedirom the discharge'tube, lthereby per"- mittingqthe discharge of Washing liquid to the separating bowl. n y n Another object is to provide a supply means for a power washing separator bowl said. supply means including a supply can having a discharge tube in axial alignment with arevolubleseparating bowl said disch-arge tube including a; milk feed tube positioned therein,.`said milk feed tube including a resilient ring and being constructed and arranged-to permit quick axial displacement from the discharge tube during a washing operation.. f y

' Theseand other objects willbecomev more readily apparent during a reading of the'speei- Iication when examined. in: connection the along the line 3-'3 of Fig. 2

` Fig. 1s is a sectional view taken substantially tioned at the upper end of disk pack 26.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through a portion of a liquid supply means of a modified form of the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, a centrifugal cream Yseparator is generallyv designated by the' reference character I0. The cream separator" I is of the power washing type and essentially consists of an improved supply means generally designated by the reference character II. The cream separator I also includes a revoluble separating bowl I2 surrounded by the usual type of tinware structure I3.

The revoluble separating bowl I2 consists of an upper bowl part, or section I5, and a lower bowl part I6. The bowl parts I5 and I6 are conventionally of annular construction and the lower bowl part I6 consists of an upwardly extending annular ring I 1. The parts I5 and I6 are connected together by means of a threaded collar IB which securelv holds the bowl parts in assembly. The threaded collar I 8 includes a substan- V tially continuous peripheraldischarge opening I9 best shown in Figs. l and 4.Y The discharge opening I3 is substantially continuous with the exception of` a plurality of circumferentially extending connecting spacers 26. y i

The upper and lower bowl parts .I5 and I6 are secured together by means of the threaded collar I8 and inlude a substantially continuous peripheral discharge opening 2I. A pluralityof circumferentially spaced spacers 22 suitably space the upper and lower bowl parts apart. A rubber sealing ring 23 is positioned adjacent the peripheral disharge opening 2I. The rubber sealing ring 23 serves as a centrifugal valve member for regulating the discharge of washing liquid through the continuous peripheral discharge .openings I9 and 2I. The rubber sealing ring 23 is suitably retained in place by means of recesses 24 provided in downwardly extending wings 25. Only one of the wings 25 is shown, but a number of thesebmay be circumferentially disposed adjacent to the continuous peripheral dischargeropening 2|.

The revoluble separating bowl I2 includes a disk pack 26. The disk pack 26 includes a plurality of superimposed frusto conical disks 21. The disks 21 are provided at their central portion with inner peripheral edges 28. The peripheral edgesl define an axially extending unobstructed cylindrical space 29. A

A distributor chamber 30 is yprovided at the lowermost portion of the bowl I2. The upper end of the bowl I2 is provided with a collar 3I which includes a plurality of skim milk openings 32. A cream outlet 33 is in communication with the cylindrical space 2S and extends downwardly with respect thereto. A divider disk 34 is posi- The revoluble bowl I2 is suitably rotated by means of `a driving member referred to by the reference 4character 35.

A tinware structure I3I may be of conventional design and includes a skim milk receiving chamber 36 and a cream receiving chamber 31. A skim milk spout 38 is in communication with the receiving chamber 36 and a cream discharge spout 39 is in communication with thecream receiving chamber 3'I.

The supply means II consists essentially of a supply can 40 positioned above the separating bowl I2. The supply can 40 includes a down- Wardly extending discharge tube 4I. The discharge tube 4I is provided with an inner cylindrical surface 42 and has at its upper end a tapering portion 43.

A milk feed tube generally designated by the reference character 44 is positioned within the discharge tube 4I. The feed tube 44 includes a g body 45 substantially coextensive with the disnated by the reference character 5B.

charge tube 4I. The body 45 has at its upper end a tapering shoulder portion 46 which normally engages the inner tapering portion 43 of the discharge tube 4I in sealing relation to restrain the discharge of liquid from passing into the discharge tube 4I. By virtue of this construction the milk feedtube 44 is also axially retained within the dischargev tube 4I. The lower endV of the body is provided with a rounded annular enlargement 48. lThe annular. enlargement 48 engages the inner .surface 42 of the discharge tube 4I in a snug and sealing relation. The t of theenlargement 48 with respect to the surface 42 is such that a sealing relation is effected although the feed tube 44 may readily slide Awith respect to `the discharge tube 4I. y

The body 45 is provided with an integral Itubular extension 49 which is of considerably less diameter in cross section than the body 45. The extension 48 projects downwardly into the cylindrical space 29 and is in 'close Yproximity to the upper end of the distributor chamber 3U of the separating bowl i2.

The feed tube 44 is connected to a combined float and handle arrangement generally desig- The float and handle arrangement 56 includes a pair of upstanding leg members 5I which are integrally connected to the feed tube 44. The upstanding leg members 5I are, also provided with slots 52 formed at the upper ends of the leg members. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the leg members 5I also are provided with a pair of laterally spaced projections 53, the purpose of which will presently appear. Y

A valve member 54 is positioned for `rotation about a transverse axis between the leg members 5I. The valve member 54 is somewhat of a rectangular design and includ-es a tube 55 which in turn is connected to a oat and handle member 56. The Valve member 54 is arranged to pivot between the legs 5I by means of a pin 51 extend- ,Ying transversely through the slots 52. The valve member 54 is also provided with a transversely extending pin 58 which is adapted to engage the projections 53 during vertical movement of the valve'member 54. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the valve member 54 is also provided with a spherical face 59. Y The spherical face 59 includes a depression 66. The depression 6G forms a valley within the valve member and this valley, as best shown in Fig, gradually increases in depth, the greatest depth being at the upper end of the valve member 54.

In the modication shown in Fig. 5 a feed tube 6I is positioned within the discharge tube 4I` of the supply can40. The feed tube 6I isfsomewhat similar in design to the feed tube 44 and includes at its upper end a shoulder portion 62 which is adapted to engage the inner tapering portion 43 of the discharge tube 4I. I'ihe feed tube 6I also includes a body 63. The outer surface of the body 63 is of considerably less cross sectional diameter than the innerv diameter of the tube 4I. The body 63 is coextensive with the discharge tube 4I and has at its lower edge an annular recess 64. A resilient ring 65 is positioned within the recess 6 4, the outer surface of the resilient envases ringe d"proiectingzfrom.thebody SSand 'engaging surface; 42: ci discharge ktube. Mr im sealing fand relatiueslidmg: relation. A tubular extension .6d is: :integrally .formed with the: feed tobecft Ywith the 4extensionxprotecting; down wardlyninto: the separating: bowl. l2. The feed tube is also provided `with' opstanding leg mem,- beri'l only one otxwhielr issiiown..

The separating operation: is conyentiona. and whole flows: down throughthe feed tube @4l finto the'distributor chamber, 30 where fit1 issubsequently fed: to* the disk pack-26 'for sepa.a

ration.; isidischarged throughuopenrings: the: cream; is: discharged through the 'cream outlet.33 `Dur-ing .thefseparating opera,is

'the separating bowl l is rotated kat 'a speed i terr thousand R P; M` The; ow of whole `to `the separating vbowls is controlled.by means of a. combined naat 'andf-handlefmember ,Ellas clearlyn disclosed and described the aforo mentioned application.. As, the .milk ylevel de.-

lcat: and: handle mem-ber 5d inV the washing I operation. After the 'cream separation has been completed it is. then ydesi-redy to the interior oi the separating bowl.. For thispurpose the supply can is lledwith a quantity' 'ci washing. 'ligandK or water. Theiioat and handle member 5l! is in the position. shown..v in Fig. Zand the plug 5d' closes. the: feed. tube 4e. The tapering 45. oli the feed. tube is in. sealing; relation respect to the. inner' tapering `portion dity of the discharge tube Eli It. can baseert*therefore, that noy washing liquid. can in. thispositon: flow to.y the. separating bowL The power tor rotating the; separating; bowl: is new shut oilv and the separati-rigzbowl; is free to rotate Without power; The operator-l thereupon liiits. upwardly on thehandle 5d whereupon: the pins 5l 5h. morev upwardlywith. respect to 'the leg members 51;; The plug 54 thereuponhe-- :comes disengaged from the opening ofthe 'feed tube and the. pin 58; engages the, projections 153', thereupon also moving the iced tube also upwardly. The. operator' continues to move the millier reed tube` 41e upwardly until the rounded an- -n-ular` enlargement has cleared the upperY edge of. 'the discharge tube dlg,- whereupon alarge quantityr of washing li'qid is discharged through the discharge tube 4| and into the. cylindrical space 219.01. the disk'. pack'h As the washing liquid arrveswithin. the cylindrical space 2li the` inertia required to.: brin-g the washing liquid "into rotating movement causes the' speed of l rotation of the separating bowl'tcbe considerablglessened. As the speed of rotation of the separating bow-l thereupon is: lessened the sealing ring 23 contracts and opens the continuous discharge opening 2.l`,. n through which the washing liquid is thereupon radially distributed. The interior of theseparati-ng bowl" is thus. flushed.

After the discharge of .this initial amount of waterthe operator thereupon pushes downwardly on the handle 50 in turn replacing the tube 44 within the discharge tube 4l., The plug 542' is 6. discharge!or` washing-f;liquid through' the charge. and. feedtubes is, thusfstopped.. power forfrotating theseparating bowl i'sfagai-xr motionv until, ahigh: speed of rotation has beenreached. whereupon thering 2'3; is; again.,

expanded to seal the continuous discharge cpr-:rre-V Zle After a1 desired. speed hasebeenY reached the cycie isfrepeated and. -thevoperator again lifts; upwardly on. the handle member-5h to:` displace the. discharge tube 44, thus turn permitting washing liquid to enter into-'and through the: dis-f' charge tube and the tube 44. rhis'fcycle of opcr2 ation.- nray berepeated three for--iiour times: until thenoperatcr is: satised that the interior of the creami-s'eparating bowl, `hasbeeir suiiciently flushed clean.. g y design of the feed tube is especiallylme portant in facilitating .the separatingand washing operation. Duri-ng the separating operation thefeeol tube.. must be. securelyaxially positioned 'soz 'that `the lower portion: of the feed tube is at all times in complete axial alignment with the dischargey chamberdr.. Anyclccki-ng -ofitl're tube 4:4."wouldfresult in an unequal 'separating operation and the possible. mixing; ofwhole the separated cream. It -isftherefore desirable .to` support Vtlfrefeed tube ra :manner that will..

assurerigidwand.v axial alignment-lat all times during the separating operation. This is readily complished by appiicants Vdesign wherein the teed' 'tube' is provided with thefupper annular shoulder and. the lower rounded annular enlarge.- menlt which; 'supports theffedtube within; thedfi'scharge tubexdl in a rigid and :positive man-ner.,

During the washing operation as' abovemlentioned it is@r readily` apparent, that the feed tube must be axially 'displaced afsuccess-ive number. oi times `duri-ng the washing cycle.. order to facilitate the ready axial `displacement ofthe tube applicant has provided his milk feed tube withl an annular rounded enlargement which may slide relative to the inner surfaceof the discharge tube in a ready manner and yet seal against the. entrance of liquid into the discharge tube until f the enlargement is completely displaced from. the

functions to prevent liquidl from passing through the discharge tube until the feed tube has been removed. During the washing operation it is extremely importantv that a large quantity ot washing liquid be instantaneously directed to the separating bowl. By providing a feed tube shaped in the manner shown, applicant is able to control the discharge. of liquidthrough they disch-argc tube. llil-until the. desired moment. when the enlargement 48 has. cleared the discharge tubeflll..

The. washingliquid flowing. through the. 'exten'- slonvll!) vgenerally directed immediately 'to the distributor 30. The washingliduid Whichfissupplied through the/discharge tube 4! on 'the other hand supplies most of the washing liquid. foi washing. thev interior peripheral edges. ofthe' separating disks. Since the inner peripheral edges of thefdisksjare the most dicult to wash clean it. is ,important that a. large amount of washing vucluid te directed to me. Cylindrical space zo at the proper moment during the. 'washing cycle. .The enlargement .4'8 serves' to' 'seal' the discharge also thus engaged with the, feed. tube 44: and the g5 tube untillthe feed tube 44' has been displaced,

7 whereuponv a large quantity of washing liquid immediately enters and impinges upon the peripheral edges of the disk pack. The sudden entrance of the large quantity of washing liquid serves to properly flush clean the peripheral edges of the disks.

Theenlargement serves to prevent undesired small quantities of water from entering into the cylindrical space until the feed tube is almost completely removed whereupon a desired and immediate large column of water can enter into the cylindrical space.

In the modification shown in Fig. the discharge tube 6l is also provided with a body 63 of substantially less cross sectional diameter. The entrance and discharge of washing liquid through the discharge tube here is controlled by means of a resilient ring 65 which may be of rubber or synthetics. The ring 65 functions in the same manner as the enlargement 48. Another important feature of the enlargement or rubber ring is that the feed tubes 44 and 63I can readily be displaced from the discharge tube 4l' and any cooking of the feed tubes will not effect a'wedging action against the inner. surface 42 of the discharge tube 4|. 'I'his is very important to accomplish the frequent and necessary axial displacement of the feed tube during the washing cycle.

It can readily nowV be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and a novel and improved supply means has been provided for regulating the flow of washing liquid to a power washing cream separator. It must be understood that modiiications'and changes may be made in the design which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A supply means adapted for supplying washing liquid and liquid to be treated to a separating bowl comprising a supply can, a discharge tube connected to said supply can and in communication therewith; a liquid feed tube within said discharge tube, said feed tube including a body having a shoulder engaging said discharge tube; a rounded annular enlargement adjacent the lower portion of said body, a tubular extension connected to said body and adapted to project into a separating bowl, and a handle on said feed tube whereby an operator may axiallydisplace said feed tube from said discharge tube, said rounded enlargement engaging the inner wall of said discharge tube to seal the same against the discharge of water therethrough until said enlargement has been axially displaced from within said discharge tube.

2. A supply means adapted to supply washing liquid and liquid to be treated to a separating bowl comprising a supply can, a discharge tube connected to said supply can and in communication therewith; a liquid feedA tube within said discharge tube, said feed tube including a body having a shoulder engaging said discharge tube; a. rounded annular enlargement adjacent the lower portion of said body, and a handle on said feed tube whereby an operator may axially displace said feed tube from said discharge tube, said rounded enlargement engaging the inner wall of said discharge tube to seal the same against the discharge of water therethrough until said venlargement has been axially displaced Vfrom within said discharge tube.

3. A supply means adapted tov supply liquid to he treated to a separating bowl comprising a supply can adapted to be positioned above a bowl; a discharge tube projecting downwardly from the supply can for axial alignment with a separating bowl; a feed tube positioned within said discharge tube; said feed tube including a cylin-4 drical body of substantially less outer cross-sectional diameter than the inner diameter of said discharge tube; a shoulder engaging the upper portion of said discharge tube to seal the same, an annular enlargement having a rounded peripheral edge in snug sliding engagement with the inner wall of said discharge tube, said enlargement being ypositioned adjacent the lower edge of said discharge tube, a tubular extension of less cross sectional diameter than the body adapted to project into a revoluble separating bowl; and a handle connected to said feed tube whereby an operator may axially displace the feed tube from said discharge tube.V

4. 'A means adapted to supply washing liquid and liquid to be treated to a centrifugal bowl, comprising a supply can; a discharge tube projecting downwardly from said supply can and adapted to be positioned over the inlet opening of a bowl, said discharge tube having an annular tapering surface adjacent the upper edge thereof; a liquid feed tube positioned with#- in said discharge tube, said feed tube having a body portion including a tapering shoulder arranged to engage the annular tapering surface of said discharge tube in sealing relation, an annular resilient member encircling the body portion near thelower endthereof and projecting outwardly therefrom, said resilient member engaging the inner surface of said discharge tube in snug sliding relation, and a tubular extension on said discharge tube adapted to project downwardly into a separating bowl.

5. A supply means adapted to supply washing liquid and liquid to be treated to a separating bowl comprising a supply can, a discharge tube in communication with said supply can, a liquid feed tube Within said discharge tube, said feed tube including a body having an annular shoulder at'its upper end for engaging said discharge tube and sealing said discharge tube from communication with said supply can, an annular enlargement on Said body, said enlargement being axially spaced with respect to said shoulder, and means for axially displacing said feed tube, said enlargement engaging said discharge tube to seal the same against the discharge of liquid therethrough until said enlargement has been axially displaced from within said tube.

6. A supply means in accordance with claim 5 wherein said annular enlargement includes an annular resilient member connected to said body and adapted to engage the discharge tube in snug sliding arrangement.

WILLIAM H. HARSTICK. HILMOND O. VOGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 576,945 Brenneman Feb. 9, 1897 1,308,469 Amet July 1, 1919 1,584,599 Behrends May 11, 1926 1,644,388 Lindgren Oct. 4, 1927 2,173,580 Fawcett Sept. 19, 1939 2,331,541 Flowers Mar. 9, 1943 2,450,308 Smith Sept. 28. 1948 2,504,261 Harstick Apr.v 18, 1950 

